the first mackerel of the summer

Went fishing again this weekend in Weymouth, and David and I managed to catch a couple of dozen mackerel between us - surprising for this time of year, but I'm certainly not complaining!

BBQ Good-ness

Our first BBQ of the season - and bloody brilliant it was too if you don't mind me saying so: black bream, haloumi, red pepper, courgettes and salad (all veggies via Growing Communities) all washed down with a bottle of rosé. Lovely job.

Pleased to eat you

I have a great food swap going on at the moment. A friend of mine loves fishing, and goes regularly to the reservoirs by Walthamstow Marshes. He catches more trout than he knows what to do with.... but luckily also has a penchant for croissants with jam (can you see where this is leading?) Anyway, we've got a trout for jam deal - suits me just fine! This is the second of the season - yum :)

The culinary delights of Hackney

It's a while since I've been to Victoria Park - and my, how it's coming on. I was making my way towards the lovely Pavillion Cafe in the park, which I'd heard lots of goodness about. Aside from the swarms of yummy mummys chasing Oscar/Matilda etc. away from other tables I have to say it indeed did deserve such praise. Organic and Fairtrade items feature regularly on the menu, and although I've yet to test it, the food looked good, sourced from the likes of Brindisa and the Ginger Pig, and it is now also a collection point for the Growing Communities veg box scheme. Coffee was the Monmouth Coffee people - my fave! Really, I suppose the yummy mummy comment is a little unfair; no doubt in time I'll be just the same, and really, it's my own fault for trying to seek some solitude there during the Easter Holidays on the warmest day yet!

So... coming back to the culinary delights of Hackney, getting back on my bike I cycled via the roundabout, in the direction of Homerton. On my way I passed a promising fish and chip restaurant/take away called The Fish House (we're trying it out this evening), opposite a branch of The Ginger Pig - set to open April 8th. How exciting! Will have to investigate further this evening...

ps - obviously I didn't quite get it together to post this last night and so can report happily that their fish and chips is good!

The elusive Bridfish Smokery

I feel resigned to the fact that every attempt to find this place, open, is doomed. The latest was yesterday, whereby we ended up driving up and down the same road in Bridport, for a good 15-20 minutes! Still, I did manage to catch them at the farmer's market in Weymouth last year, and mighty fine they were too. Particularly the smoked prawns!

For those feeling a little luckier, you can find them here:

Bridfish Smokery
Unit 1 Old Laundry Trading Estate
Sea Rd North
Bridport
Dorset
DT6 3BD

Tel: 01308 456306
Fax: 01308 456367

* Following on from this I can confirm that I have finally managed to visit this place during opening hours. Again, the smoked prawns were delicious, but also the smoked goat's cheese - which believe it or not was polished off in about an hour by just three of us!